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In today’s digital world, children face many opportunities and risks at the same time. From an early age, they immerse themselves in the world of the Internet, using social networks, online games and educational platforms.

According to statistics, one in three children learns to use a mobile phone or tablet before they start talking: 29% of children start using gadgets at an early age, and 70% fully master them by primary school age.

However, along with conveniences come security, privacy, and psychological comfort threats. Parents need to know how to protect their children by teaching them the basics of cyber security.

The main risks that children can face on the Internet:

• Cyberbullying: Humiliation or bullying online.
• Phishing: attempts to gain access to a child’s personal information.
• Hacking accounts: using weak passwords or lack of two-factor authentication.
• Inappropriate content: access to videos or sites with material inappropriate for children.
• Online predators: Adults who try to contact children for manipulation or criminal intent.

It is important to explain to children from an early age how the Internet works and what the dangers may be:

• Passwords and authentication: Explain to children that passwords should be complex (with uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, symbols, etc.) and should not be shared with third parties.
• Two-factor authentication should become a mandatory practice.
• Privacy of information: Children should know that personal information such as address, phone number, place of study, personal photos cannot be published.
• Phishing and scam messages: Teach children how to recognize suspicious emails, messages, links and never click on suspicious links.

It is important for parents to set limits for Internet use, in particular:

• Time Limits: Determine how much time your child can spend online without harming their health.
• Allowed platforms and content: Create a list of allowed websites and apps. Explain that you can download programs and applications only from official sites and with the permission of adults.
• Social networks: Set privacy settings on social networks to limit access to your child’s personal information. Also, clearly discuss what content can be published and why.
• Activity monitoring: regularly see what your child is doing online without violating their privacy. You can use special parental control tools.

National Online Safety: “Online Safety Guide for Parents”

Talk openly with your children about the online experiences they are having. This will help to understand what they are facing and to respond promptly to possible threats.
Importantly:

• Create a trusting relationship: the child should know that he\she can refer to parents in case of any danger or suspicion and inappropriate behavior of online interlocutors.
• Teach ethical behavior online: Children need to understand that their actions online always have consequences. Teaching digital ethics is important to prevent cyberbullying and other forms of aggression.

Parents can use various programs and tools to reduce risks:

• Parental control: specialized programs for monitoring and restricting access to sites.
• Antivirus software: Protection against malware and attacks.
• Content filters: blocking sites with unwanted content.
• Safe Search Engines: Set up kids’ accounts for safe search engines

As technology evolves rapidly, parents should stay up-to-date on new trends and threats in the field of cyber security. Regularly update your own knowledge through specialized resources, courses and specialized sites and share it with your children.